2010 Player Review - # 34 Stefan Martin

[Demonland 65,729]

Hampered by a hip complaint for much of the second half of the season, but struggled to impress when he was fit. Needs a permanent position on which to focus. Must improve in 2011 to prolong his AFL career - Luke Holmesby melbournefc

Games MFC 2010 2 Total 29 Goals MFC 2010 0 Total 6

Games CSFC 2010 4 Goals CSFC 2010 7

Games CSFC (res) 2010 2 Goals CSFC (res) 2010 3

[H_T 2,941]

Luke has summed it up well. Needs to step up in 2011 and provide an option. Very limited options for him. Forward/relief ruck is one.

[Red Sox 2]

Luke has summed it up well. Needs to step up in 2011 and provide an option. Very limited options for him. Forward/relief ruck is one.

The way things seem currently (prior to the drafts) Stef must have an impact forward or relief ruck as you suggest HT. I thought when we first saw him, he had some potential down back and his ventures forward, he looked lost.

Priority # 1 for Stef is get some aggression into your play and attack that ball.

Could do anything, could continue to do absolutely nothing. I like him and hopefully things turn.

[rumpole 480]

Disappointing that he was injured or played injured for a great part of the season. Hope he's better next year.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,342]

He was really impressive when he first played. Big strong body- looked capable of anything. I couldn't believe how far backwards he went this year -lumbering and lost. I certainly hope he finds his way again as he could be the strong forward we need.

[Carn dees 108]

I dont think he'l ever make it as a forward. And to be fair he didn't really get much of chance at making a position he's as he was thrown around quiet a lot (when he wasnt injured).

I think he could be an ok defender, unfortunately not so confident about his disposal and decision making.

[Bitter but optimistic 21,342]

I dont think he'l ever make it as a forward. And to be fair he didn't really get much of chance at making a position he's as he was thrown around quiet a lot (when he wasnt injured).

I think he could be an ok defender, unfortunately not so confident about his disposal and decision making.

Agreed - he was chopped around a bit but if not up forward i don't see aplace for him. he won't fit in our best backline unless he gains a fair bit of pace

[e25 5]

Quite a few seem to have written him off already.

I'm more than happy to persevere with him.

[Bay Riffin 1,420]

put him at full back for Casey and let him re-develop some confidence. is a back man, not a forward.

[Deeoldfart 7,788]

Quite a few seem to have written him off already.

I'm more than happy to persevere with him.

Me too, but I'd also like to see him given an opportunity to settle into a position. He plays more like a defender, but there's not much room for tall defenders at Melbourne at the present time.

[Fan in the outer 0]

I dont think he'l ever make it as a forward. And to be fair he didn't really get much of chance at making a position he's as he was thrown around quiet a lot (when he wasnt injured).

I think he could be an ok defender, unfortunately not so confident about his disposal and decision making.

I think he's worth preserving with, think he has more potential than Warnock who is 2 one dimensional.

[Guest Thomo]

Agreed - he was chopped around a bit but if not up forward i don't see aplace for him. he won't fit in our best backline unless he gains a fair bit of pace

He has good pace, probably his strenght.

[Carn dees 108]

Im not giving up on the kid at all.

I actually new a bit about him before he was drafted.

He barely played any footy mainly basketball, he played one good game at haileybury which drove the dees to take a punt on him. I definitely think he's worth persisting with i just dont really have any expectations.

[Nasher 33,131]

Ruck/Forward, Stef. Make it happen.

He has my backing too.

[e25 5]

Yep, good call.

Exactly what I want.

He should not be playing in the backline.

[Rogue 585]

I went out to Visy in the preseason and thought Martin showed promise versus Essendon. He presented well and got his hands to the footy, but just kept dropping easy marks. Either he can take those marks, in which case he has some potential to be a player up front (along with a ruck relief role, I imagine), or you think he can't take a mark to save himself and therefore he'll never be any good anywhere.

Has some positive attributes but needs to find some confidence when he has the footy.

[titan_uranus 22,541]

It's pretty clear what Stefan needs to do over the pre-season: work on becoming a ruck/forward.

He has little future as a backman. He's behind Frawley, Rivers, Garland and Warnock, and if we keep McNamara he'd have another contender.

I thought he was quite good against Brisbane in the ruck when he got his chance early this year. But he is just terrible as a forward.

If he can work at it, though, he could find himself in the 22 come Round 1.

[_becks_ 35]

Hmmm i think i agree with everybody else on this one. He needs to tell Bailey that he wants to play in the Ruck/Forward position that we need. If he can kick 1-2 goals a game and reieve Jamar, then he is halfway there. The kid can take a mark, needs to work on his goalkicking though.

[e25 5]

"He needs to tell Bailey..."?!??

Are you serious?

[Trisul 640]

Loved his low gather on the run under pressure ~45 out hff reflex banana inside opponent to robbo at the top of the goal square in 09.

[Roost It 1,434]

Not much to say here but this guy is the forgotten bigman of the club. 2 years ago talk around here was we'd unearthed a gem. Personally I rate him ahead of Newted and hope he can have a great preseason and come into 2011 strong, fit and keen to perform. He could well prove to be the back up that Jamar needs. Just a thought before we run off and recruit another project big man which personally I don't think the club will do. I'd say we're more likely to try and recruit a mature age ruckmen again next preseaon.

[hrob 2]

where do u think his best position is? back?, cause i personally think his rubbish in the forward half.

[Steamin Demon 370]

Stef played 1 or 2 decent games as a back flanker, Where are you pulling this second ruck stuff from ??? Roost it the guy is a basketballer and BTW Newton believe it or not has shown WAY MORE !! Desperate to start to a thread much ??

[Rogue 585]

He's a fair way back in the tall defender race, so forward/second ruck is probably his best opportunity to carve a career at Melbourne. Things can change, though.

[jayceebee31 671]

Not much to say here but this guy is the forgotten bigman of the club. 2 years ago talk around here was we'd unearthed a gem. Personally I rate him ahead of Newted and hope he can have a great preseason and come into 2011 strong, fit and keen to perform. He could well prove to be the back up that Jamar needs. Just a thought before we run off and recruit another project big man which personally I don't think the club will do. I'd say we're more likely to try and recruit a mature age ruckmen again next preseaon.

I would agree- however may consider playing him as a back pocket- doing ruckwork in defence.I still believe we will get another experienced back up to Jamar as security.